UPDATE: October 17, 2024
Prepared By: Captain Edward Hartwick
Earlier today, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) released an update to their investigation into the August 12, 2024, officer-involved death that occurred in the City of Fitchburg. DCI identified the officer involved in the incident as Sergeant Peter Johnston.
Sergeant Johnston has been a member of the Fitchburg Police Department for over 14 years, serving as a patrol supervisor for the last seven. In addition to his primary duties as a supervisor, Sergeant Johnston has been a state-certified instructor for ten years and a member of the Special Response Team and the Field Training Unit for the past seven years.
Sergeant Johnston remains on administrative assignment, per agency policies.
DCI continues as the agency responsible for this investigation. Media inquiries should be directed to the Wisconsin DOJ.
View the update from the Wisconsin Department of Justice
Sergeant Peter Johnston
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UPDATE: August 16, 2024
The Wisconsin Department of Justice has released an update on the officer-involved critical incident that occurred on August 12, 2024.
You can view the update here: Wisconsin Department of Justice Media Release 8/16/24
Please direct all media inquiries to the Wisconsin DOJ.
ORIGINAL RELEASE
Incident Type: Officer-Involved Shooting
Incident Date: August 12, 2024
Release Date: August 12, 2024
Incident Number: FP24-16496
Prepared By: Deputy Chief Matthew Laha
Details:
Around 8:00 a.m. this morning, Fitchburg police officers responded to a residence on the 800 block of Whispering Pines Way for a 911 call reporting a physical disturbance.
While on the scene, the officers were approached by a witness who reported a physical altercation between two individuals. The witness directed the officers to the residence, where the two individuals entered.
The officers entered the residence after confirming the ongoing altercation.
While searching the residence, officers encountered a man armed with a knife. The armed man approached officers after refusing repeated commands to drop the knife. One of the officer fired their duty weapon, striking the man.
Officers rendered medical aid to the man until paramedics arrived on scene and transported him to a hospital. He is a 28 year-old resident of Fitchburg and is currently in critical condition.
The victim in the original incident, which appears to involve a domestic relationship, received minor injuries that did not require medical attention.
The officers involved reported no injuries.
The officer involved is a sergeant with the Fitchburg Police Department with 14 years of experience. He has been placed on administrative duties, per standard protocol, pending further investigation into the officer-involved shooting.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation (D.C.I.) is leading the officer-involved shooting investigation at the request of the Fitchburg Police Department. The Fitchburg Police Department will continue the investigation into the original domestic abuse incident.
Any inquiries regarding the officer-involved shooting investigation should be directed to D.C.I.
We want to thank D.C.I. and Wisconsin State Patrol for their assistance in this investigation as well as the Dane County Sheriff's Office.